Guitar Player Magazine described Omar Dykes – “his guitar playing slices like a freight train pullin’ a load of Texas tone, and his voice has the kind of delivery that could shatter a beer stein.” Dykes has been making music for over 50 years, and he’s showing no sign of slowing down. 2014 was a particularly emotional year for him – he lost four dear friends that had been a part of his career. Using music as his catharsis, he’s created one of his strongest albums to date called the Kitchen Sink. In addition to the new songs, he gives us the origins of the archival tracks on the new disc. Plus, he talks about how being retired is actually helping his songwriting, and the time he met Johnny Cash.

Omar Dykes is celebrating 50 years in the music business with the release of a brand new album, his first with his band, the Howlers in eight years, I’m Gone. We talk with the blues survivor about hooking back up with many of the musicians that’ve played with him over the years, his unique recording technique (no rehearsing allowed!), and the release of his first-ever career retrospective, Omar & the Howlers Essential Collection. He also tells a great story about sneaking “across the tracks” to hear the music of the blues.